9 Strategies to Beat Burnout and Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Burnout is real. It’s something we’re all battling, often silently.

We push ourselves day in and day out without stopping to think about how it’s affecting us. Yet, its unseen weight accumulates.

As entrepreneurs, founders, and creators, we pour ourselves into our work. We love it.

However, if we don’t find the time to step away, collect ourselves, and maintain a healthy balance, our mental health may suffer.

You are not alone though. We can prove it.

Below you’ll find the hands on experiences from 9 other entrepreneurs like you. And, as you’ll see, they offer hope for a more balanced personal and professional life.

1. Recharge, Delegate, and Find Balance

As the CEO of Startup House, I understand the challenges of burnout all too well. To overcome it, I recommend a three-step approach: recharge, delegate, and find balance. Firstly, recharge your batteries by taking breaks, practicing self-care, and pursuing hobbies outside of work. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup!

Secondly, delegate tasks to your team members. Trust their abilities and empower them to take on responsibilities. This not only lightens your workload but also fosters a sense of ownership and growth within your team.

Lastly, find balance in your life. Set boundaries between work and personal life, prioritize your well-being, and don’t forget to celebrate your wins along the way. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful startup. So take care of yourself, trust your team, and find that sweet spot between work and play.

Alex Stasiak, CEO and Founder, Startup House

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2. Leverage Technology for Efficient Work

Entrepreneurs often find themselves struggling to achieve balance in life. Implementing new strategies requires discipline and commitment, but the payoff is a more fulfilling entrepreneurial journey with a healthier work-life balance.

You can start by leveraging technology to streamline work processes. Utilize project management tools for efficient task organization and collaboration. Automate repetitive tasks to save time, allowing you to concentrate on more strategic aspects of your business. I use ClickUp, and it allows me a better overview of what I have to get done.

Here’s another thing you should keep in mind—that the people around you matter. Surround yourself with mentors and friends who understand the challenges of entrepreneurship. Seeking advice and sharing experiences can provide valuable insights and emotional support. 

Nicholas Robb, Head Honcho, Design Hero

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3. Know Your Limits

It’s crucial to know your mental and physical boundaries. If that is difficult (not all of us want to know or respect those boundaries!), then we “need to allow others in”; that means, we need to hear those close ones around us who do remind us that we are burning the candle at both ends, working too hard or asking too much of ourselves.

Jan P. de Jonge, Founder/MD/Business Psychologist, People Business Psychology

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4. Set Clear Boundaries and Delegate

First and foremost, I set clear boundaries between work and my personal life, making sure to carve out time for things I enjoy and to relax. I’ve found that regular exercise really helps in keeping both my mind and body feeling good. Talking with other entrepreneurs who understand what I’m going through has been a big help; it’s like we’re all in this together.

I also learned to delegate tasks more, trusting my team to take care of things so I don’t have to do everything myself. And whenever I feel overwhelmed, I try to remember why I started this journey in the first place – that initial excitement and passion really help put things into perspective.

Ryan Draving, Founder and Head of Strategy, The Moving Company

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5. Acknowledge Limits and Embrace Planned Rest

Overcoming burnout is a real challenge for founders, and I’ve been there more than once. The first step is acknowledging that you’re your own worst enemy. Ambition is a double-edged sword. Yes, you can achieve everything you’ve set out to do, but not all at once. Recognizing this helps to prevent overextending yourself.

Outsourcing is another great tactic. It’s about focusing on those high-value tasks and delegating others. This doesn’t just free up your time; it allows you to concentrate on the key areas where your input is needed most and where you’re most passionate about—an important step to maintaining motivation and creativity.

Lastly, never underestimate the power of planned rest. For me, taking a personal day each month and a week off every quarter has been a game-changer. I have time to reflect, realign, and recharge so that I return with new perspectives—even new ideas I hadn’t thought of before. This isn’t just about taking a break; it’s about sustaining your long-term productivity and mental well-being. Remember, running a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and looking after your health is one of the most important parts of the journey.

Jeremy Rodgers, Founder, Contentifai

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6. Practice Acceptance and Honesty About Burnout

It’s critical to practice acceptance of burnout. Understand that it’s a natural part of any process where someone is giving themselves wholeheartedly to an effort, and that trying to “power through” or ignore it will only make your burnout worse.

Checking yourself and being honest about your burnout level is the only way to overcome burnout in a healthy way—once you see it and know you need to take a step back, act on that.

Drew Chapin, Partner, Commerce Media Studio

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7. Implement Time-Blocking Discipline

One strategy that has been a lifesaver for me is time-blocking. It’s easy to implement, yet surprisingly effective.

There was a time when my work was spilling over into my personal life, leaving me stressed and burnt out. That’s when I decided to try time-blocking. I started by dividing my day into blocks of time, each dedicated to a specific task or activity. For instance, mornings were for strategic thinking and creative work, afternoons were for meetings, and evenings were for family time and relaxation.

The result is a significant improvement in my work-life balance. Time-blocking helped me focus on one thing at a time, reducing stress and increasing productivity. It also ensured that I had time for non-work activities that mattered to me.

It’s simple, practical, and can make a huge difference. Just remember to be disciplined and respect the boundaries you set.

Swena Kalra, Chief Marketing Officer, Scott & Yanling Media Inc.

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8. Schedule Personal and Family Time

I tend to work as much as I’m able. I’ve found that if I schedule things with my family and friends, I don’t have a problem taking time away from work. But if nothing is scheduled, I default to work. So now, I’m more proactive about making plans and scheduling time with my family to ensure it happens.

A few years ago, my wife and I were talking about New Year’s Day plans. I knew if I was home, I would wind up working all day. We made plans to take our two kids to the aquarium that day, and we all enjoyed a fun time together. The same applies to our kids’ soccer practice, band concerts, or church events. I can schedule the time I need with my family and let the work fill in around it. If I tried it the other way, I would work all the time.

Marc Andre, Co-Founder, Founder Reports

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9. Step Away From the Home Office – and Lock the Door

In addition to a busy family life and my work as an entrepreneur, I have a full-time job where I work from home. The endless hours in front of a screen – whether it be a second monitor, laptop, tablet, or phone – becomes daunting. As much as I love technology, I want to squash that constant desire to check the latest email or respond to the latest message.

That’s why I need to step away and lock my home office door when it’s quitting time. As you’ve read other entrepreneurs here, we enjoy our work almost to a fault. But, regardless of who you are, breaks are necessary. They’re required to say productive.

I want to be there for my wife and kids. They’re a large part of the reason I do what I do. We should all remember that – especially us remote workers – and step away from the computer.

It will be ok! I promise!

David Domzalski, Co-Founder, Founder Reports

Helping Yourself Avoid Burnout

Now that you have an idea of how other entrepreneurs and professionals like you deal with burnout, take the next step. It’s time to do something about it.

We invite you to download our free Founder Reports Goal Setting Planner. Simply put, you’ll learn how top entrepreneurs and creators set goals. It comes with 25+ goal setting prompts to ignite your business and life.

Unburden yourself and take charge of your business and life. You’ll thank yourself later.

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